Officials predict more economic growth

FITCHBURG -- With 2013 duly rung in, most local government and business leaders are predicting improvements to the regional economy, with some reservations and cautions.

Joshua B. Spero, faculty director at the Regional Economic Development Institute at Fitchburg State University, said a lot of local trends depend on whether the country can avoid falling off the "fiscal cliff" and avoid major tax increases and spending cuts.

"I hesitate to 'predict' because our institute looks at economic development trends," said Spero. He said the way current trends are headed, the area can expect to see economic growth slowly continue, including "cautious" small business expansions.

"People want to work, consumers want to keep buying," said Spero. He said things will go smoother if the unemployed continue to have access to the social safety net and training programs are funded to help workers transition into new fields.

Stephen Wallace, town planner of Westminster, predicts an increase in new construction in the area.

"I see development activity picking up," said Wallace. "It's not going gangbusters, but the housing market will rebound."

Wallace said there will be more construction, but it will not reach 2007 levels.

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Wallace said in Westminster there were 10 permits for new home construction in 2011. That number jumped to 23 in 2012 and he expects this trend to continue.

Eric R. Smith, principal planner with the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, said it is almost a sure thing that Fitchburg will be designated a cultural district by the Massachusetts Cultural Council in 2013. Gaining the designation has been a major focus of his in 2012.

Right now, designation doesn't provide any state funding but does provide marketing for the municipality from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. However, Smith said there is talk of creating new grants for designated cultural districts. If both of those things happen, Fitchburg could be getting a bonus in fiscal 2014.

Daniel Asquino, president of Mount Wachusett Community College, said he expects the 50th year of the college to continue on a positive path.

"My hope is that more residents in the community will become civilly engaged and will assist one another, and I believe that involvement will continue to grow in the coming year and beyond," he said.

"I think the economy is going to improve and there will be more jobs available," added Asquino.

In November, Mount Wachusett Community College's business department took a survey of 267 local business executives on their attitudes and predictions for the near future. The survey was conducted through a partnership with four local chambers of commerce, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce, the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce.

"The survey results reflect a guarded optimism among a small majority of executives that 2013 will present opportunities for growth and new hiring," said Melissa Fetterhoff, president and CEO of the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Most of the surveyed business leaders said hiring trends will be "fair to good" in 2013.

Michael Greenwood, chair of the business department at MWCC, indicated the results revealed 51 percent of the surveyed businesses plan to hire new employees in the next year. If those intentions pan out, the area will see 279 new full-time jobs and 374 new part-time jobs.

Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said he thinks 2013 will be a year when people learn to appreciate their family and community.

"With the fire in Leominster, the shooting in Connecticut, I think people are thinking of the significance of family and community," said Mazzarella. He said as the economy slowly improves he believes people will be more apt to count their blessings.

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